Archived News for OHS Sector Professionals - September, 2012
The ACTU has claimed that the rise of insecure work in Australia over the past few decades has made employees less able to speak up for their rights and workplaces less safe.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said a constantly changing workforce often meant that safe systems of work were not fully-implemented, and casual, contract and labour hire workers were also less likely to speak up if they thought something was unsafe because they feared the sack.
Speaking at the annual United Mineworkers Federation Memorial Day at Cessnock, Ms Kearney said one aspect of a secure job had to be a healthy and safe workplace.
“The creeping rise of insecure work is a threat to mine safety,” Ms Kearney said. “I am talking about labour hire, casualisation and contracting out, along with fly-in/fly-out or drive-in/drive-out.
“A lasting safety culture cannot be created with a mobile, temporary workforce. And it is well known that a lack of job security makes it more difficult for people to speak up for their rights, particularly about occupational health and safety. Industry studies point to a link between a lack of safety in mines and the growth of contract employment in the industry.
“Contractors are increasingly favoured by some mining companies over permanent employees because they are cheaper and many contractors are not union-oriented and are less likely to raise safety concerns.
Safety standards for some contractors have been found to be lower than other workers, as they received less training and induction.
“At the core of the CFMEU’s dispute with BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance in the Bowen Basin is management’s insistence on appointing health and safety officers who do not represent a workforce that is increasingly contract driven.”
About 40% of the Australian workforce is in insecure work. The recent inquiry chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe heard much evidence that insecure work had led to less safe workplaces.
“The law needs to keep pace with these changes, and through the ACTU’s Secure Jobs. Better Future campaign, we intend to ensure that contract and labour hire workers have the same health and safety protections as other workers. Because one of the fundamentals of a secure job is a healthy and safe working environment.”
The United Mineworkers Federation Memorial Day has been held every year since 1996 at the Jim Comerford Memorial Wall, named after the legendary late former Northern District President of the Miners Federation.
The wall commemorates more than 1800 men and boys killed in Northern NSW mines since the start of the 19th century.
NTC calls for collaboration to improve workplace road safety
The National Transport Commission has released its National Road Safety Partnership Program draft strategy for public consultation, responding to a key action in the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 agreed by ministers in 2011. The strategy recognises the major role that industry can play in improving road safety in Australia.
ACT Labor promises to set up Industrial Magistrate's Court
ACT Labor has undertaken to establish a an Industrial Magistrate’s Court and appoint Industrial Magistrates to oversee work safety law in the ACT if it is re-elected in October.
CFMEU threatens to close Queensland mines on safety proposal
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has threatened to close down the Queensland coal industry by a work ban on mines if the State Government adopts a proposal by the Queensland Resources Council to remove from union safety inspectors the right to close mines on safety grounds.
New national office to oversee asbestos management
A new organisation with a central coordinating role will pave the way for a national approach to asbestos awareness and management in Australia.
Newcrest team wins mine rescue competition
Newcrest Cadia Valley Mine Emergency Response Team has defeated eleven other teams from across the country to win the Victorian Mine Rescue Competition sponsored by Fire and Safety Australia.
One in six Australians forced to leave job
Some 2.5 million Australians ceased a job during the year ending February 2012 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Around 1 in 6 of these lost their last job because they were retrenched, made redundant or their employer went out of business. In 2010, around 1 in 5 people reported that they lost their last job for these reasons (compared with 1 in 10 in 2008).
The most common main reasons for ceasing a last job during the year ending February 2012 were: